Archives for March 2006

Question: bought a house with a 7 filter system…only label says springhouse and ecotech….what is this? where do i get replacement cartridges for it….does it also have to have a water softener inline with it? what is the electric plug on one of the cartridges do??Answer:
We found the Users Manual for the system that is installed in your home and it can be found at http://www.ecoquestintl.com/ownersmanuals_web/SpringHouseOM.pdf.
The plug appears to be for Ultra-Violet UV water filtration. UV Filtration is used to kill any bacteria present in water. They do not seem to make any claims to the effectivness of their system on bacteria and looking at the diagram of the the filter flow, it looks like the UV system may have some flaws. UV light can be blocked by larger particles in water. Since the filtration appears to have a 20 micron filter prior to the UV stage, any particles under 20 microns can enter the UV chamber and effectively protect bacteria by being between the UV light source and the bacteria. It seems like a better design would have the 1 micron carbon block filter prior to the UV chamber to remove all particles greater than 1 micron in size which would minimize the shadowing effect. Do not use this filter system with water that has been deemed unsafe for consumption. This system does not have a softener built in. If you have hard water, then you would need a seperate water softener to solve that problem. Replacement cartridges can be found from the manufacturer. Depening on the size of the cartridge, you may be able to use any brand of filter that meet the specifications..

I have a reverse osmosis system GXRM10G. Family of 2. How often should I change the postfilter sump and prefilter sump and should I change the RO cartridge at the same time?
Most Revers Osmosis Filter Systems require pre and post filter changes at 6 month intervals to maintain peak performance. The membrane should be changed every 2 years or if you notice a significant drop in water passing through the reverse osmosis system. In your case the GXRM10G uses the FX12P pre and post filters which should be changed every 6 months and the fx12m membrane which should be changed every 2 years. The O-rings should be changed every other filter change on the pre and post filters and every change on the membrane..

Most people are not aware that after you change your refrigerator water filter, there are two additional steps that should be taken to properly complete the water filter change.

Step 1: Reset your refrigerator water filter change light

Most new refrigerators now come equipped with an indicator light that notifies you when it is time to change your water filter. This light does not automatically reset when you change your water filter and the light must be manually reset.

Here is a list of refrigerator manufacturers and how to reset the filter change indicator light:

Amana– Press and hold the Auto and Dispenser Lock buttons until the water filter status indicator light flashes.Frigidaire– Press and Hold the Reset Button Until the Indicator Light Flashes.GE General Electric– Press and Hold the Reset Button for around 8 Seconds.HotPoint– Press and Hold the Reset Button for around 8 Seconds.Jenn-Air– Press and Hold The Water and Lock Buttons until the Water Filter light flashes.Kitchen Aid– Press and Release the Light Button 5 times Quickly.Maytag– Press and Hold The Light and Lock Buttons until the Water Filter light flashes.Samsung– Press and Hold the Ice Type and Child Lock Buttons at the same time for 3 seconds.Whirlpool– Press and Release the Light Button 5 times Quickly.

Step 2: Flush a couple of gallons of water through your new filter

Since refrigerator water filters are made of carbon, some carbon residue is present in the first gallon or two of water. This will not harm you but may leave a bitter taste and residue in your water. If you continue to have these problems after flushing a couple of gallons through the filter, it is possible that you have a defective water filter.

Once these two steps are completed, you are all set to enjoy great tasting ice and water through your refrigerator. If you don’t see your manufacturer listed or the instructions don’t work for your model please post a comment with your make and model number so that we can provide exact instructions for your model.